Walking to the rhythm of the yaks with Rosula Blanc [Portraits of Valais women] [Portraits de Valais
In this podcast episode, I welcome Rosula Blanc, a shepherdess - caravaneer who walks with her yaks and organizes trekking tours with them in the Valais region of Switzerland.
Watch the video interview
Listen to the podcast
Episode summary
Rosula Blanc lives in the Val d’Hérens, in the Swiss canton of Valais, surrounded by her yaks, with whom she caravans in the mountains. She also organizes
A life in the heart of Val d’Hérens
Rosula lives in an isolated mayen at an altitude of 1,800 meters. She lives there with her dogs, surrounded by her yaks. Her daily life is linked to the animals and the mountains: observing the weather, looking after the animals, chopping wood, maintaining the site… Among other activities!
Discovering yaks
The story began almost by chance. Looking for animals adapted to the mountains, Rosula discovered the yak, a hardy animal perfectly at ease in steep terrain and cold. First two animals arrived, then the herd grew.
Comment soutenir La Sportive Outdoor?
L'une des façons de nous soutenir est de faire vos achats via nos sites partenaires.
L'idée n'est évidemment pas de vous pousser à la consommation: n'achetez que ce dont vous avez besoin mais, lorsque vous le faites, passer par nos liens nous aide car nous touchons ainsi une petite commission sans aucun coût supplémentaire pour vous.
Vous pouvez par exemple en ajouter certains en favoris pour vos prochains achats. Pensez à accepter les cookies de nos partenaires dès l’arrivée sur leur site.
- i-Run: jusqu'à -50% pour les Winter Deals
- Alltricks: toujours des offres intéressantes
- Ekosport: -10% extra sur une sélection de produits (destockage)
- Intersport: des promos spéciales Montagne
- Alpinstore: -10% sur le textile avec le code DESTOCK10
- Compressport: -10% avec le code WELCOME-COMPRESSPORT
- Decathlon: pas mal de bons plans
- Tonton Outdoor: de belles promos pour les Winter Deals
- Lyophilisé.fr: pour faire le plein de nutrition sportive
- Andros sport: frais de port offerts avec le code SPORT24
- Ekoi: encore de jolies promos
Pour plus de façons de nous soutenir, c'est ici.
With no one to teach her how to educate them, she learns everything on the job. She talks about true co-evolution: learning from them as much as they learn from her.
Yaks are not so easy to tame. Powerful and sensitive, they require calm and trust. For Rosula, the key is mutual respect : the yaks follow her because they trust her.
Walking differently
Every summer, Rosula organizes two- to three-day trekking tours in the Val d’Hérens. Participants walk alongside the animals, adapting to their pace. These journeys allow us to rediscover the mountains in a different way: without any quest for performance, simply at the pace of the living.
The yaks carry the luggage, allowing complete autonomy. A typical stage lasts a day of five to six hours’ walking, covering a dozen kilometers.
The great crossing to the sea
In 2011, Rosula completed a 700-kilometer adventure between Evolène and Menton, with three yaks. A journey lasting over a month that remains a seminal experience for her. She recounts this adventure in her book Avec 3 yaks vers la mer.
A relationship of trust
Over the years, Rosula has forged strong bonds with her animals. Together, they have travelled many paths. Their relationship, built on trust and respect, illustrates the unique bond she maintains with her herd.
